About Ashley F. Miller

If you enjoyed this, consider supporting my work at Patreon. Every little bit helps.

I have a PhD in Mass Communications, with a focus on intersectional theory, television, and social media. I speak across the US on topics related to feminism, atheism, and communications. I worked in the film and television industry for several years on shows like "Toddlers & Tiaras" and "Flipping Out." I've been published in the best-selling Women's Studies text "Women's Voices, Feminist Visions," alongside writers like Gloria Steinem, bell hooks, Maya Angelou, and Jessica Valenti. I also play the ukulele.

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Female Filmmakers; Women Directors

There’s an interesting article over at Film School Rejects which basically lists about a hundred films directed by women. Now, I do appreciate that there are not very many women directors, or at least, not a lot of successful ones, but I do think that it’s useful to look at the entire field of filmmaking. After all, directing is just one part of the puzzle — movies are written, edited, produced, and a million other things. Even movies with leading females aren’t that common. Statistics from San Diego State University. Last Year (2008):

Only 6 of the top 50 grossing films (12 of the top 100 films) starred or were focused on women.

Women comprised 9% of all directors.

Women accounted for 12% of writers.

Women comprised 16% of all executive producers.

Women accounted for 23% of all producers.

Women accounted for 17% of all editors.

Women accounted for 25% of production managers.

Women comprised 44% of production supervisors.

Women accounted for 20% of all production designers working on the top 250 films.

Women comprised 5% of sound designers.

Women accounted for 5% of supervising sound editors working on the top 250 films.

Women comprised 1% of key grips.

Women accounted for 1% of gaffers working on the top 250 films of 2008.

Even film critics are overwhelmingly male:

In Fall 2007, men penned 70% and women 30% of all reviews. Furthermore, of the newspapers featuring film reviews, 47% had no reviews written by women critics, writers or freelancers. In contrast, only 12% had no reviews written by men critics, writers or freelancers.

So what do I have to offer as a way to remedy this? Not much. There are some resources out there, but you usually have to pay money to join. Or else they’re just not updated that often.

About the author

If you enjoyed this, consider supporting my work at Patreon. Every little bit helps.

I have a PhD in Mass Communications, with a focus on intersectional theory, television, and social media. I speak across the US on topics related to feminism, atheism, and communications. I worked in the film and television industry for several years on shows like "Toddlers & Tiaras" and "Flipping Out." I've been published in the best-selling Women's Studies text "Women's Voices, Feminist Visions," alongside writers like Gloria Steinem, bell hooks, Maya Angelou, and Jessica Valenti. I also play the ukulele.